The mineral helps the body combat oxidative stress – where the body can’t cope with free radicals, or unstable molecules – which is a process linked to ageing.
But its positive effects are magnified when it’s taken with compounds known as hydroquinones, which are found in polyphenols in a range of foods and drinks, such as cocoa powder, dark chocolate, berries, nuts, vegetables, wine, and beans.
Zinc activates the hydroquinones, which help combat the effects of ageing, as well as inflammation, some cancers and neuro-degenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s, say researchers at the University of Erlangen-Nurnberg in Germany.
(Source: Nature Chemistry, 2018; doi: 10.1038/s41557-018-0137-1)
